Boxnut - The oil co that held the lease would only be interested...

Boxnut - The oil co that held the lease would only be interested in the o&g contained within that particular area and I would suggest that their lease is approved with the exploitation of hydrocarbons only.

I imagine that they would also have in-built into their well approval the rehabilitation of the site. This would cost them valuable dollars in a currently constrained o&g market and so if the well has been depleted for hydrocarbons then it would save them money by passing the rehab requirements on to another company that would be looking to take on this responsibility (ASN). ASN would then apply to have the well requirements modified to include the brine removal for Lithium testing and to also delay the rehab due to the suitability of the pad. It saves having to develop another pad and so the authority would generally agree to this modification. Savings all round. The CAPEX that ASN would have earmarked for the pad development can now be postponed for the rehab costs in the future.

My understanding only - hope this helps

Moff.